How to Enter the Art World
after a late start , a first career, illness, raising children, a crisis of confidence, leaving it in disgust...
Acclaimed Art Critic Hettie Judah Brings After Sessions to Elmslie House, Malvern
Can you make it without going to art school? Can you get back into the art world after years away? And what does success actually mean? How to Enter the Art World is a grown-up guide for any artist whose life is complicated, demanding and, well, human. Informed by years spent working with artists and dozens of candid interviews, it is a myth-busting bonanza full of insights, ideas and inspiration. Frank, funny and occasionally forthright, this is your friend on the path (back) into the art world. Hettie Judah is a writer, and curator of the acclaimed exhibition Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood. The author of numerous books on art, she is well known as a critic, columnist, broadcaster and advocate for artists’ rights.
Award-winning art critic, writer and curator Hettie Judah will visit Elmslie House, Malvern, for a special evening of conversation, reflection and discussion as part of her UK tour for her new book, How to Enter the Art World.
The event is part of Judah's new After Sessions series, created to bring artists together for honest conversations about the realities of making and sustaining a creative life. Invited by a group of local artists, the Malvern event will go beyond a traditional book talk, offering an open question-and-answer session exploring what it means to be an artist today.
Eight artists will each give a five-minute presentation about their practice, with their work on display throughout the evening. These presentations will form the starting point for a wider conversation with Judah, who will act as a sounding board for questions about artistic practice, confidence, careers, and navigating the art world at every stage of life.
Published in April 2026 How to Enter the Art World is an encouraging and practical guide for artists returning to their practice after time away, changing careers, raising families, experiencing illness, or simply questioning their place in the art world. Drawing on Judah's extensive experience working with artists, the book challenges myths about success and offers thoughtful, realistic advice for building a sustainable creative life.
Known for her writing, broadcasting and advocacy for artists' rights, Hettie Judah is also the curator of the acclaimed exhibition Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood and the author of several influential books on contemporary art.
The evening promises to be an inspiring opportunity for artists and anyone interested in creativity to engage in an honest conversation about the challenges, possibilities and joys of making art.
Event: Hettie Judah – After Sessions
Venue: Elmslie House, Malvern 9th July 2026
Format: Artist presentations, conversation and audience Q&A with Hettie Judah